The House Ways and Means Committee will consider this morning a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

Rhodes says the cigarette tax increase under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but sometimes there are some significant up front costs…

cut 13 (09) “up front”
The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says everyone’s excited these changes are finally being made…

cut 4 (10) “what we want”

Billings says renovations are happening both outside and inside the building. He says construction is expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors pulled out a big portion of a $114 million dollar bond deal with LSU over concerns about budget cuts. He says the university didn’t do anything wrong…:
CUT 1 (12) “state right now”
Kennedy says higher education in Louisiana has been shocked with back to back years of reduced funding and investors are sounding the alarm bell.

The number of motorcycle deaths on the road is going down. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013 according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Deputy director, Ken Trull, says a factor in motorcycle fatalities is impaired driving as one-third of Louisiana’s 2014 motorcycle deaths involved alcohol. He says motorcyclists should never ride impaired or distracted and try to make yourself more visible
CUT 14 (07) “and cars”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicked off today beginning the seven days of a great lineup of music and amazing food. The lineup this first weekend includes headliners Keith Urban tonight, The Who tomorrow and Sunday it’s Jimmy Buffett on the Acura Stage. Other huge artists performing this weekend are Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Irma Thomas, Ryan Adams, John Legend, Wilco, Jimmy Cliff, Wayne Toups and more.

There has been an arrest made in the double murder which has rocked a small community in LaSalle Parish. 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton were found dead Wednesday and 37-year-old Randy Waits is charged in the deaths. LaSalle Parish Sheriff Scott Franklin wants to assure people that this is not a mass murder situation…:
CUT 5 (10) “he thought”
Cotton was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Duncan was also shot in the head and her throat was cut.

As part of a compromise in a lawsuit by two newspapers, LSU has released the names of three candidates considered during a presidential search the university had kept under wraps at the time. Documents released Friday include names of officials from Texas A&M, East Carolina University and the University of Alabama. LSU President F. King Alexander was eventually chosen for the job.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a seven percent decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014 compared to the prior year. Deputy Director Ken Trull says helmets are helping to reduce motorcycle deaths. He says an observational study in 2014 found that 100-percent of motorcyclists wore a helmet…:
CUT 13 (08) “turn signals”
He says they need all motorists to get on board with keeping an eye on motorcyclists.

The Ochnser Hypertension digital Medicine Program in New Orleans says they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch for its patients. Dr. Richard Milani says with the Apple Watch, patients can receive medication reminders, feedback from clinics, activity tracking, and exercise reminders. He says over 40-percent of patients in the program have their hypertension under control, compared to a usual care group of only one-percent…:
CUT 11 (08) “to the patient”‘

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. 37-year-old Randy Eugene Waits has been arrested for the deaths of 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton. Sheriff Scott Franklin says there appears to be a connection between the suspect and one of the victims…:
CUT 4 (11) “as a witness”
Waits is charged with two counts of first degree murder.

National investors have pulled out of a multi-million dollar bond deal for LSU says State Treasurer John Kennedy due to a possible massive cut in state funding for the university. Kennedy says LSU issued $114 million dollars in revenue and refunding bonds earlier this week. LSU sells bonds to investors to get up front money to pay for construction projects or to get a better deal on existing debt.

Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist and Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, is going to reportedly confirm to the world tonight that he is transgender. ABC will air an exclusive two-hour special with Diane Sawyer at 8pm. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana says the 65-year-old says discrimination against transgender people is unfortunately quite pervasive and severe…:
CUT 7 (12) “other people”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a slight decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013. The commission’s deputy director, Ken Trull, says they hope to reduce the number even more in 2015 but they need help from all motorists…:
CUT 12 (09) “aware of em”

Ochsner Health System in New Orleans announces they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch to manage patients suffering from chronic diseases. The Ochsner Hypertension Digital Medicine Program uses the device to track patients blood pressure. Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, Dr. Richard Milani, says about 40-percent of patients with chronic disease want a medication reminder…:
CUT 10 (07) “at that time”
Milani says since the watch is on your wrist it provides individuals with nudges and feedback in a timely fashion.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors have pulled out a large portion of a $114 million dollar bond deal for LSU amid concerns over budget instability and state support for higher ed in Louisiana. He says this is not a welcome development and there could be ramifications for other colleges in the state.

A bill by Gonzales state Representative Eddie Lambert would set a limit on the size of live crawfish that would be sold to people or restaurants. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 3 (31) “reporting”

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is officially underway. Keith Urban hits the main stage tonight.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

LSU announced this morning it has postponed issuing nearly $115 million in bonds because of the “continued unpredictability of the state budget.” LSU says it will “reevaluate the offering once the state’s financial picture becomes more clear.” The university sells bonds to investors to get up front money to pay for construction projects.

ABC will air a special two hour interview with Diane Sawyer  and Keeping Up with Kardashians star Bruce Jenner where it’s expected he’ll announce he’s transgender. The Olympic Gold medalist has not spoken publicly about any of this. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana hopes the 65-year-old Jenner’s very public story will be an inspiration for transgener people…:
CUT 8 (07) “of trans people”
The interview begins at 8pm.

Ochsner Health System in New Orleans announces they are the first hospital in the country to use the new Apple Watch to manage patients suffering from chronic diseases. The Ochsner Hypertension Digital Medicine Program uses the watch to track patients who are having trouble controlling their blood pressure. Chief Clinical Transformation OFficer Dr. Richard Milani…:
CUT 9 (10) “that for us”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office charges a suspect in connection with a double homicide in central Louisiana. 37-year-old Randy Eugene Waits has been arrested in the deaths of 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton. Sheriff Scott Franklin says it happened in Urania…:
CUT 3 (09) “her home”
He says the teen was shot and her throat was slit and the older woman was shot in the head. Waits is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist, is going to reportedly confirm to the world tonight that he is transgender. ABC will air an exclusive two-hour special with Diane Sawyer at 8pm. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana says the 65-year-old Jenner is being amazingly courageous…:
CUT 6 (07) “who you are”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign runs through April 30. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 2 (26) “reporting”

An arrest has been made in the case of the youth softball brawl in Youngsville when a male coach punched an opposing female coach and broke her nose. Lafayette Sheriff’s deputies charged Herman Lewis for second degree battery and say there is also an obstruction of justice warrant out for his sister who is accused of lying about the whereabouts of the accused coach.

The Department of Health and Hospitals issues early reminders about the importance of taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from West Nile. In 2014, Louisiana reported 61 cases of West Nile. DHH State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard says, when it comes to mosquitoes, this mantra will help reduce your risk for infection…

cut 15 (05) “not on my skin”

Due to the heavy rains we’ve received in April, it’s believed this will be a big mosquito season.

A bill filed by Gonzales state Representative Eddie Lambert would make it illegal for vendors, farmers, and harvesters to sell crawfish that are smaller than three and a half inches for people to eat. He says crawfish is a multi-million dollar industry that basically has no standards. Lambert says one problem with crawfish is that they are difficult to grade…

cut 12 (10) “live animals”

The legislation will be taken up in the House Natural Resources Committee.

State Troopers arrested a Houston man in Calcasieu Parish after finding 24 pounds of cocaine in his vehicle. They say during a traffic stop, they discovered 35-year-old Alphonse Trahan, Jr. had a warrant out for his arrest from Texas. During a subsequent search of Trahan’s vehicle, troopers found the drugs in hidden compartments. Trahan faces multiple charges including possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival gets underway today. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

A bill by Gonzales state Representative Eddie Lambert would set a limit on the size of live crawfish that would be sold to people or restaurants. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with the death of two women. Authorities say they found 76-year-old Erma Cotton in her home in Urania dead from an apparent gunshot wound Wednesday. The body of pregnant 19-year-old Kylie King Duncan, who was working next door to Cotton’s residence, was found Thursday a few miles from Cotton’s home. Randy Eugene Waits faces two counts of first degree murder.

Today kicks off the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This weekend, headliners include Keith Urban, The Who, and Jimmy Buffett. Festival producer Quint Davis says, on top of the great music, the festival also offers gourmet food in a field on a paper plate for $10 and under…:

cut 5 (09) “andouille gumbo”

Other artists performing this weekend include Irma Thomas, Ryan Adams, John Legend, and Wilco.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign runs through April 30. The campaign is an effort to get more pickup drivers to use their seat belts. Executive Director Lt. Col. John LeBlanc says buckling up in a front seat passenger car is the best way to reduce your risk to fatal injury…

cut 9 (09) “to buckle up”

He says you can expect to see increased patrols to make sure you are buckled up, no matter what kind of vehicle you’re in.